Rear-axle structure for automobiles.



E. J. GULICK. REAR AXLE STRUCTURE EUR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APRT25,1912.

Patented Apr. 22. 1913.

.and'diiierential gear bearings.

EDWARD JnGULICKyOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REAR-IAXLE STRUCTURE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 32,1913.

Application tiled April 25,1912. Serial N o. 693,098.

To all whom 'it may concern.' Be it known that I, EDWARD J. GULIGK, a citizen of the United States,` residing at- Chicago, in thecounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improve-ments in Rear-Axle Structures :tor Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to rear axle structures for automobiles, and its main ob- -ject is to provide a construction combining simplicity of structure with a high degree of strength and rigidity `and capacity for resisting the bending or flexing strains of the load and maintaining the perfect axial alinement of the axle sections and diierential gearing. Y

Another object is to provide an improved constriiiction well adapted to confine within the intermediate enlargedportion` of the axle-casing the lubricant carried therein and prevent the working out of such lubricant through the outer' portions of the axlecasing to the brakes.

My invention will be readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the rear axle, rear wheels, and' a portion of the chassis frame of an automobile embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the axle-casing Fig. 3 is a detail view in end elevation ot' one section ot the enlarged intermediate portion ot' the axlecasing, as it appears viewed on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and omitting the movable parts carried thereby.

Referring to the d awings, 10 designates a part of the chassis frame, 11 the rear springs, and 12 the rear wheels, all as usual.

13 and 14 designate the two axle sections connected at their meeting ends by the usual diii'erential gearing, the bevel pinion frame or casing of which is shown at l5, the large driving` gear, connected to said casing, at 16, the driving `pinion at 17, and the transmission sha't't at 18.

19- and 20 designate the two conical sections o't` the intermediate or central portion of the casing which surrounds and incloses the diiierential gearing and inner `portions of the rear axle sections and their bearings; and 21 and 22 designate the outer' or end portions of said casing that `inclose the outer portions of Athe axle sections. The meeting ends of the casing sections 19 and 20 are strongly united by through bolts Q3, and the section-19 is cast with a lateral cy-` lindrical extension 24 that forms the casing or support for the bearings25 of the transJ mission shaft 18. The end casing sections 21 and Q2 are formed with annular shoul ders 2G and 27, respectively, and the outer ends of the central casing sections 19 and Q0 terminate in internal annular flanges 28 and 29 that are rigidly secured to the shoulders 26 and 27 of the outer casing sections 21 and Q2 by tap-screws 30 andBl. The conical casing sections 19 and 20 are cast with internal radial ribs 39. and 33, respectively, the outer ends of these ribs being integral with the end flanges 28 and Q9, and the inner ends of said ribs carrying integral annular bearing members 34 and 35. The inner end portions of these bearing members constitute supports or carriers for the anti-friction bearings 36 and 37 of the differential gear frame or casing 15 and Jfor the inner end portions of the axle sections 13 and 14 which pass through the journals of the differential frame or casing 15, as is well understood. The outcrend portions of the bearing members 3-1 and -35 are of reduced diameter, as shown` in Fig. 2, and constitute supports for the inner ends of a pair of reduced sleevelike extensions 38 and 39 of the outer axle-casing sections. 9.1 and 22, respectively; said sleeve like extensions being integral at their outer ends with the shoulders 2G andj27 of the outer axlecasing sections. The outer and inner endsotl the bearing members 34 and 35 are formed with annular radial strengthening flanges 34, 35, and 31h and 35", respectively, which strongly reinforce both the outer and `inner ends oi said bearing members against the strains imposed thereon by the inner ends of sleeves 38 and 3S) and the bearings ofthe differential gear.

From the; foregoing it will be seen that the outer axle-casing sections 21 and 22 on which the weight of the rear portion of the chassis rests are strongly supported 'in andy by the wide inner casing sections 19 and 20 Iat the outer ends oi ,the 'latter where the broad shoulders '2G and 27' engage and are snugly bolted to the inturnedtlanges 28 and 2S), and also, through the sleeve extensions 38 and 39, at the outer ends of the bearlng members 3a and 35, said sleeves 38 and 39 beinggiven 4a'substantial support and bearing within said bearing members. By reason `of the considerable relative length between the outer 'and inner supports just described, and

further by reason of the fact that the bear-` ingmembers or 'carriers '34 and 35are cast integral with and wholly supported by the radial ribs 32 and 33 and are therefore very .strongly and rigidly held in fixed position in the casing sections 19 and 20, the assembled structure possesses a very high degree of strength to resist transverse deiecting or bending strains, and the axle sections and differential gearing are at all times maintained in perfect axial alinement, thus 1 avoid-ing. any tendency to erarnp and bind the Pgears and pinions of the differential gearing, and insuring the true and' smooth running 'of the latter.

In the practical operation of the structure in ,an automobile, the central casing, of course, contains a considerable body of lubrican-t suliicient to allow the main' differential driving gear 16 to constantly dip in a body :of oil.- The joints between the end flanges of the inner sections and ,the shoulders of the outer Sections are oil-tight, so that no oil can escape at -those points when the axle tips,

or is turned on end, and,ot course, the sleeves 38 and 39 prevent the'passageof any oil from the outer ends of the casing sections 19 and 20 intotlieouter casing sections 2l and 32 when the axle may be ti ped-or turned on end. Some oil will, o course, work through the antifriction bearings 36 and 37,

but this is drained back into the main cas.

and with internal ribs and annular bearing.

members wholly supported bysaid ribs and themselves forming supports for the differential-gear bearings, said annular bearing members having external radial strengthening flanges fittheir ends, and outer axle-cas ing sections formed with annular shoulders engaging and rigidly secured to said. in-

ternal annular .flanges and formed Withinwardly extending sleeves surrounding said axle sections and engaging and supported at their inner ends by the outer end portions.

of said annular bearing members.

2. In a rear axle structure for automobiles, the combination with the axle sections "andv the differential gearing, of a pair of interv mediate conical. axle-casing sections vrigidly united at their inner wide ends and formed with internal annular flanges at their outer narrow ends and with internal radially disposed ribs and annular bearing members vt/holly. supported by said ribs and them-v selves orming supports for the ditferentialgear bearings, said" annular vbearing members having external. radial strengthening flanges at their ends, and outer axle-casing.

sections formed with annular shoulders en gaging and rigidly secured to the outer faces ofsaid internal annular flanges and formed with inwardly extending sleeves surrounding said axle sections and at their inner ends entering and supported by the outer end portions of said annular bearing members.

3. In a rear axle structure for automobiles, the 'combination with the axle sections and the diifere'ntial gearing, of a pair of intermediate conical axle-casing sections i rigidly united at their inner wide ends and adapted to contain a body of oil and formed with internal annular flanges at their outer narrow ends and with internal radially disposed ribs, and annular bearing members wholly supported by said ribs and themselves forming supports for the differential* y gear bearings, said annular bearing inem bers having external radial strengthening flanges at their ends, and outer axle casing sections formed with annular shoulderslengagingv and rigidly secured to said internal annularflanges and formed with inwardly extending sleeves surrounding said axle sections and engaging and supportedat their inner ends by the outer end portions of said annular bearing members,said annular bearing members being also provided outwardly of t-he differential gear bearings with drip passages at their lower ends to conduct oil escaping through said diii'erential-gearbeam ings back into the intermediate portion of the axle casing.

EDWARD J. GULIGK. V'Vitnesses: p

SAMUEL N, POND, DAISY C. THoRsEN. 

